Figure 21.15 Decomposition rates of leaves in a tropical forest. Researchers collected recently fallen leaves and placed them into mesh bags to determine the rate of daily mass loss over time in the forest. (a) A sample of 4 of the 11 species examined reveals a range of different decomposition rates. Error bars are standard errors. (b) During the first 50 days of decomposition, the decomposition rates of the 11 leaf species were positively correlated with the solubility of compounds that could be leached from each species. (c) After 50 days, the decomposition rates of the 11 leaf species were considerably lower and negatively correlated to the amount of lignin in each leaf species relative to the amount of nitrogen.
Data from W. R. Wieder et al., Controls over leaf litter decomposition in wet tropical forests, Ecology 90 (2009): 3333–3341.